Kaleidoscope



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. REEVES. KALEIDOSGOPE. No. 593,405. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

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W. REEVES.- KALE'IDOSGOPE.

No. 593,405. Patented Nov. 9, 1897.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. W. REEVES.

KALEIDOSGOPE. No. 593,405. Patented Nov. 9,1897.

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UNTTED STATES ATENT @rmcn.

WILLIAM REEVES, OF NEWV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

KALEIDOSCOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,405,'dated November 9, 1897.

Application filed February 24, 1897. $erial No. 624,798. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern-.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM REEVES, of the city and county of New Haven, in the State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Kaleidoscopes, which is fully setforth and described in the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the casing for my invention; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3, a side elevation with the casing removed; Fig. 4, a similar rear elevation; Fig. 5, a detail rear view of the disk, and Fig. 6 a top View of the same, both partly broken away; Fig. 7, a detail view of one of the sectional sectors or cells of the disk; Fig. 8, a vertical section on line 8 8 of Fig. '3; and Fig. 9, a detail view of the triplever, the coin-controlled lever being shown in section.

In all figures similar numerals of reference represent like parts.

This invention relates to kaleidoscopic or optical instruments creating and exhibiting by reflection a variety of beautiful colors and symmetrical forms from translucent substances contained in them; and it consists in the construction of a compound disk for the kaleidoscope formed of a series of sections or cells adapted to come successively into range of the eye of the spectator and also of clock mechanism for rotating the disk under con trol of a coin deposited in a slot or chute, together with minor improvements fully set forth hereinafter.

. To this end my invention consists of a casing 1, in the front 2 of which is an aperture 3, having therein the lens 4. A slot 6 is also formed in the front 2, adapted for the reception of the coin, communicating with an in clined chute 7, the mouth of which is over the uppercnd of a vertical chute 8, with slotted sides 9. Beneath the vertical chute 8 is a coin-box 10 for the reception of the coin. On the same horizontal plane with the aperture 3 in the front 2 is a ground-glass window 11 in the rear 12 of the casing for the admission of light from an electric light 13, the connection for which will be described hereinafter.

WVithin the casing l are two skeleton supports 14 and 15, mounted on the bottom and tube 2l-and window 11-at a time.

united by the transverse lateral plates 16 and 17. The chute 8 is secured to the plate 16, and extending between the two plates and having hearings in both is an axle 18, on which, near the rear, is mounted the disk 19 of the kaleidoscope. The plate 17 is pivoted to the support 14 and has a notch 17 for engage.- ment with a lug on support 15, so that the axle 18 may be easily removed. Supported on the plate 16 and a transverse rod 20, extending between the skeleton supports 14 and 15, is a tube 21, (shown triangular in crosssection,) having on the three sides of the interior mirrors or reflecting-surfaces 22, each i11 clined toward the others at an angle. The axis of the tube is on a horizontal line between the centers of the lens 4 and window 11.

The disk 19 is formed of two plates 23 and 24 of glass, (each of said plates may be formed of sections, if desired,) over the peripheries of which is fitted a metallic rim 25. The space between the two plates 23 and 24 forms the cell or cells for the various translucent substances, which are placed therein to make the combinations of color and design,an (1 only a small portion of thedisk is adapted to be in range of the eye?l. 6., between the end of the The space between the plates of glass 23 and 24 is divided into sections formed by strips of metal 26, bent, as shown in Fig. 7, substantially in the form of sectors of a circle, the strips of metal 26 being of sufficient width to fit between the plates of glass 23 and 24, Fig. 6. On the outside of the plates 23 and 24 are cores or blocks of metal 27, Figs. 5 and 6, ad-

justably mounted on the axle 18 tohold the parts of the disk together. Wires 28 may unite the rim and blocks 27 to strengthen the disk 19, within the cells of which may be placed various substances to form the different combinations, each sector or cell holding a different combination or device from the others, so that not only are the designs in each cell changing upon the rotation of the disk, but the different cells follow each other in succession into the range of vision of the spec tator looking through the tube 21. Moreover, each cell may contain an entirely different class of substances from the others-as, for example, one may contain substances all of one color, another all of one design, &c.

Too

The means for rotating the disk 19 and controlling the same by the coin falling in the chute S is as follows: A gear 29 on the axle 18 meshes with a gear 30 of a clock mechanism secured to plate 10 and composed of gears 31, 32, 33, 3-1, and the gear 31 being connected with the spring 36 and the gear with the fly-wheel 37. This clock mechanism eonstantly tends to rotate the axle 18, on which is mounted disk 19, but the mechanism may be checked by a rod 38, depending from one end 42 of a coin-controlled lever 35), which is pivoted at 4:0 to plate 10 to swing in a vertical plane. The other end -l1 of lever 39 extends through the lateral slots 9 of chute S and is adapted to be depressed upon the fall of the coin. \Vhen lever 39 is in its normal position, rod 38 engages with its lower end the flywheel 37, checking the clock mechanism, but when end -I1 of lever 35) is depressed the other end 12 is raised and with it the depending rod 38, thereby releasing lly-wheel 37 and permitting the clock mechanism to rotate disk 19. The end 42 of lever 30 is held in its raised position (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 8) by a trip 43, pivoted on a tripping-lever it, itself pivoted at 5 to skeleton support 11 to swing horizontally. The other end 4:5 01: trippinglever iii is curveddownward, as shown in Figs. and S, and is adapted to be engaged by a lug at on disk 19. \Vhen lug 4L6 so ongages the end of lever 4: 1, upon the further rotation of disk 19 lever II is turned on its pivot and withdraws trip i3 from contact with the end 42 of lever 39, allowing lever 39 to assume its normal position. At the same time lever -l--l may be forced outward into its original position by means of a wire spring, one end of which may be secured to the front of support It and with its free end bearing against the rear of said lever. Therefore upon the fall of the coin in the chute S and the consequent swinging of coin-controlled lever 2.39 on its pivot the depending rod is raised from engagement with fly-wheel 37 and the disk revolved by the clock mechanism. The end 42 of lever 2-30 is held in its raised position by trip IZ-3 until the disk 10 has been rotated, when the lug It coming in contact with the end 15 of lever 4-1, swings it on its pivot to release trip 43 from lever 39 and permit rod 38 to fall into engagement with flywheel 37 and stop the clock mechanism and consequent revolution of the disk 19 until another coin is inserted in the slot.

The connections with the electric light 13 consist of conductors 1-7 and 4L8 from a battery or other power, one, 47, passing to the pivot 10 of the coin-controlled lever 23.), the other, :tS, to the light 13. From the pivot 5 of lever a wire 19 also extends to the light 13. The circuit is made through wire "17 to pivot 2L0 over the end 42 of lever 39 to trip 13 of lever ail, thence to the pivot 5 0t lever 1i and to the light 13 by a wire it), returning by wire 18 to the battery, See. This connection is therefore continuous only so long as end 42 of lever 39 is engaged by trip 13, which is the case during the rotation of the disk 19, as before shown.

Having now described my invention, the details or": which may be varied without dcparting from the spirit thereof, what I: claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a stationary tube provided with relleeti ng-su rfaces on its interior faces; of a vertical rotary disk having hollow sections for carrying translucent substances, adapted to come sncces sivelywithin range of said tube, upon the rotation of said disk, substantially as described.

2. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a stationary tube provided with reflecting-surfaces on its interior faces; of a rotary disk construeted of two plates and a series of sections litting between said plates to form hollow cells for translucent substances, said cells being adapted to come successively within range oi said tube upon the rotation of said disk, suit stantially as described.

3. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a stationary tube provided with rellecting-su rfaces on its interior faces; of a rotary disk having hollow sections for carrying translucent substances; and mechanism l'or rotating said disk so that said sections will come snecea sively within range of said tube, substantially as described.

t. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with astationarytube provided with reflecting-surfaces on its interior faces; of a rotary diskhz'rving hollow sections for carrying translucent substances; and adapted to come successively within range of said tube upon the rotation oi? said disk; clock mechanism for rotating said disk; means for checking said clock mechanism; a coin-controlled lever adapted to disengage said checking means from said clock mechanism upon the fall of the coin in a chute; and a trip adapted to retain said checking means from reengaging with said clock meehanism until the rotation of said disk. is 001m plcted, substantially as described.

5. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a casing having an aperture at one side, and a window on another side; of a tube the axis of which is on a line between said aperture and window, and which is provided with reflecting-surfaces on its interior faces; a rotary disk for carrying translucent substances be tween one end of said tube and said window, the axis of said tube meeting said disk at a point between the center and circumference and mechanism for rotating said disk, sub stantially as described.

6. In a kaleidoscope, the combination with a casing having an aperture at one side and a window on another side; a tube, the axis ot' which is on a line between said aperture and. window, and which is provided with reflect ing-surfaces on its interior faces; a disk be tween one end of said tube and said window formed of hollow sections for holding translucent substances and adapted upon the rotn- IlO tion of said disk to come successively within range of said tube; clock mechanism for rotating said disk; means for engaging with and faces, mounted on said supports; a plate pivoted to one support and adapted to engage with another having bearings for a rotary axle; and a removable disk mounted on said axle and formed of sections for carrying translucent substances adapted to come successively into range with said tube,'substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New Haven, in the county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, this 19th day of February, 1897.

WILLIAM REEVES.

Witnesses:

GEORGE W. ROBINSON, F. PHILIP FARNSVVORTH. 

